The Peoria City Council continued hashing out spending priorities for next year’s proposed budget.
One major topic for councilmembers last night was road funding. The city needs at least $4 million just to, at minimum, maintain road conditions. City Councilwoman Beth Jensen says she could support a proposed property tax increase, if the new funding wasn’t diverted for other city spending needs:
“I’m not opposed to increasing revenue more than what’s been proposed to us if it’s dedicated to maintaining the roads.”
City staff say the council could guarantee new property tax funding for roads by issuing bonds to finance road construction, or pass an ordinance that specifically restricts the funds.
City manager Patrick Urich says the city is looking at ways to secure any new revenues:
“Can we set up a separate property tax levy under the city’s control that would be just used for road purposes only?”
The Council will discuss road and other budget options at a special meeting Thursday.